Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about Mencap. That is because it does not relate to the provision of adult social care.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained about training delivered by the Royal Mencap Society (Mencap). She is unhappy with how Mencap investigated her complaint.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about adult social care providers and decide whether their actions have caused an injustice, or could have caused injustice, to the person making the complaint. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 34B, 34C and 34H(3 and 4) as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Care Provider.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Although Mencap is an adult social care provider we have no jurisdiction to investigate Ms X’s complaint. That is because we can only investigate complaints about care providers in their delivery of social care as defined in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
6. The Act defines social care as “all forms of personal care and other practical assistance provided for individuals who by reason of age, illness, disability, pregnancy, childbirth, dependence on alcohol or drugs, or any other similar circumstances, are in need of such care or other assistance.”
7. Ms X’s complaint is about training, not the provision of adult social care. Therefore, we cannot investigate.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is outside our jurisdiction.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman